• Manager says team can climb up table rather than right relegation• Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday looking to build on Liverpool win

Steve McClaren suspects the next few months could prove tricky on Tyneside but he refuses to accept his Newcastle United side are destined to struggle against relegation for the remainder of the season.

Asked if he would settle for finishing one place above relegation in May, the former England coach demurred. “No,” he said. “I think this team is capable of so much more. That’s the frustrating thing. Finishing fourth bottom isn’t our mindset.”